By David Brenneman
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NASB
Many men have preached the coming day of the Lord Jesus Christ in over 2,000 years.
In recent days Dr. David Jeremiah's theme series has been along the lines of this could be that day.
If indeed you are a Christian, a Christ-follower, this day indeed wouldn't overtake you like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 NASB "5 Now as to the periods and times, brothers and sisters, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord is coming just like a thief in the night. While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, so that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then, let’s not sleep as others do, but let’s be alert and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who are drunk, get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let’s be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you also are doing."
We also read in Romans 8:1-2 NASB "Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."
For Believers who are alive today, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, we could be with Jesus at His coming. 1 Corinthians 15:52 NASB "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed." This doesn't contradict 1 Thessalonians because Paul was writing about the same thing.
Each day that I live I wonder if indeed this is that day. I have believed from the very beginning of my life in Christ Jesus that the Rapture of the Church would happen in my lifetime. I do believe as completely as I believe that the chair that I am sitting in is real that He is coming soon.
The importance is too great upon way too many Godly Men to preach the coming day of the Lord Jesus Christ for it not to be soon. This is the work of the Spirit of God. I strongly suggest continuing to follow my blog here, as well as http:\\ptnews.org with Mike Wingfield.
There's still people to be reached for the harvest is still there. But that still isn't a reason to not believe that this could be that day. From the beginning of the Church they looked for the day. But Biblical prophecy hadn't come true yet regarding Israel. In the last 70 years most of the prophetic Word of God concerning Israel has come about. There are people being trained in Temple service right this very moment in Israel. They are preparing to build the new Temple. There's much to point to that the Ezekiel 38 war is potentially ready to begin within 6 months to a year.
For those who claim to be Christians, are you living a life that says you are ready to meet Jesus face-to-face? Are you living an unashamed life? One that shows to whom you belong?
For those who are on the fence about believing in Christ Jesus for salvation. It is a matter of faith, not necessarily facts, that is what is needed. You may say you need more proof. Truth is, like the people of Jesus’s day, more than ample proof has existed in your life to know the truth. Some of you have yet to understand that Satan owns the fence of indecision. He created that fence of doubt that you sit on. Providing questions that you already know the answers to. He began a few thousand years ago with Adam and Eve by asking them if God really said something. He tried with Jesus for 40 days in asking Him about what God really said.
Jesus, when He does return, is only calling out to those who do believe who have died in Christ already and to those who are alive and remain. He's not going to shout out "Last call! Anybody else?".
There's not going to be any warning. Nothing happening just prior to this event. There indeed will be an earthquake afterwards. A global earthquake. My personal thought is the collective shout of joy for all who have been saved in Christ Jesus will cause it.
Many of you keep thinking that you've got time. Stop and consider all in the news lately who have died. All thought they had time. I have shared of a story of the husband of a friend who all he did was stand up to get more coffee and fell over dead. No warning.
You can be among those who are angry at God concerning something that happened to you or someone who you know. You could be upset because of what God's Word says doesn't fit with your lifestyle. Being mad at God and refusing to come to Christ for salvation will only get you the judgment of God. You have to let go of your baggage. Time is running out.
Those people left behind, your life will be horrific. Catastrophes await this world after those who are saved are instantly removed. Plane crashes, accidents with every type of vehicle, disaster after disaster. Recovery will be the way of life. The global economic crisis will cause a new World Government to cope with it. A World Leader will arise that you not only will be forced to accept, you will be forced to worship. The currency of this world will become united into one. You will be forced to take a mark on your hand or your forehead. Even in this very moment Mastercard is testing a method of payment that uses a version of this.
Add to the catastrophe of the Rapture of the Church the judgments of God from the Bible. People rage and complain about the millions who have died in recent years, billions will die from the judgments of God. After the Rapture there's only 7 years of all of this until Jesus sets foot on the Earth to take over and rule on Earth Himself.
All who have still rejected Him for salvation who have died in those 7 years will be in Hell. Those who remain will find out what the Earth would have been like with Jesus as Ruler and King.
Rejection of Jesus as your personal Savior guarantees you that you will spend eternity paying for your own sins. It doesn't matter what your personal opinion is concerning God's judgment or justice. He has put His free gift of Salvation out there for a limited time.
To come to Christ for salvation is freedom to truly live. It's His removing our sin and guilt and replacing it with His righteousness. It matters not what you've done, what He's done can wipe it all away.
You cannot afford to be indecisive. As Scripture says in the twinkling of an eye. Faster than the speed of thought, the Rapture will happen. Jesus loved you enough to die for you. Romans 10:8-13 NASB says "But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
My Dear Reader please do not delay. Today COULD BE that day.
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